The fifth meeting of the season between these clubs was to be the decider to determine who would be at home to holders, Rangers on Sunday 23rd March. Who would have believed that after breaking such a poor Easter Road record of failures to win that Dunfermline were to defeat Hibs for the third time this season.

Second half goals from Stevie Crawford and Scott Wilson clinched the tie and a Quarter Final place for the first time since 1990.

Jimmy Calderwood chose to give Mark McGarty his first start since 9th December 2000 replacing Jason Dair as the Pars lined up with the other ten who started at Tannadice on Saturday. Dunfermline kicked off towards the travelling support and won a corner on the right within the first minute.

Andrius Skerla met the corner at the near post but Hibs cleared via the heads of two defenders. Hibs first chance fell to Ian Murray after McGarty left a ball for Derek Stillie but the goalscorer from the first tie shot at right angles to the goal and the Pars were let off.

In the 9th minute Grant Brebner sent Townsley through on the right to have a shot at Stillie but the silver shirted stopper dived to his right to save. On the quarter hour Stillie had to dive at the feet of Gary O`Connor and Scott Wilson headed out for a throw in.

Stevie Crawford accepted a long ball from just inside the Pars half from Brannan and launched a shot from the left angle of the penalty box which trundled wide of the right goalpost. The Pars were relieved to see a James free kick from the right into the six yard box slip behind as Gus MacPherson dived in to attempt a clearance.

Nicholson won a corner off Fenwick but when David Grondin sent it over from the right Skerla`s header sent it over the crossbar. Brannan successfully chipped the Hibs defence to pick out Gary Mason running in to the left side of the Hibs box but the former Man City man blasted his cross beyond the far post.

Barry Nic had a shot blocked and then McGarty crossed to the near post only for Colgan to gather with ease. The next incident of consequence was a clash that the Main Stand side Assistant Referee noticed.

Craig Brewster looked to be fouled by Paul Fenwick but it was the Pars no.10 who was yellow carded by Hugh Dallas after consultation with his flagging assistant. Maybe fortunate not to be judged to have retaliated, Brewster continued with a sore neck but not for long because Doumbe`s challenge on him seven minutes later led to the Dunfermline striker to miss the rest of the half with a cut head.

Hibs might have got the opener in the 36th minute when Jack and Brebner carved out a chance for McManus. He accepted the defence splitting pass to shoot beyond the advancing Stillie from the left side 15 yards out. Scott Wilson managed to get back and scramble the ball away off the goal line.

Half Time: Hibs 0 Dunfermline 0

The first half was not the ding dong cup tie that was going to excite the tiny crowd of 5581 and the first 11 minutes of the second started no better. Skerla cleared a McManus cross straight to O`Connor whose shot from 18 yards went straight at Stillie. Then McManus beat Skerla to head right across the face of goal.

In the 57th minute however everything changed when Stevie CRAWFORD chested down a Grondin cross from the left and shot home a beauty from 12 yards out that slipped just inside the right goalpost. Berti Vogts had probably got what he wanted from his presence sat Easter Road but for Dunfermline it his fourth of the season there and an important strike.

Almost immediately McManus raced in on the Pars goal. Skerla chased him and as Stillie came out the Lithuanian found himself defending the goal. Fortunately Andrius` presence was vital to deflect for a corner a Townsley shot that looked as though it was going to nullify the visitors` advantage.

As Hibs tried to push forward Grondin`s interception allowed the Frenchman to play the ball off Crawford and then release Brewster. Craig drove up the left but elected to shoot at Colgan instead of squaring for Grondin or Nicholson.

To the great disappointment of the Edinburgh crowd Hibs did not rally much of a challenge after that. Nicholson managed a 20 yard shot at Colgan and Grondin forced a corner from his effort.

Stillie had a comfortable two handed save from McManus and the same player blasted a 25 yard free kick high over the crossbar. Then after Bobby Williamson had gone for the result withdrawing Paul Fenwick the Pars got the second goal and the tie was over.

A 79th minute Barry Nicholson corner from the left was cleared only as far as Mason. His header was nodded on by Ged Brannan and the ball was played back in towards the right post where Hunt challenged Colgan and when the break fell off the keeper for Scott WILSON, the ball was smashed right footed into the net for 2-0.

The Pars might have made it three when Hunt slipped the ball to Crawford in front of goal but the pass took Stevie too far right and the shot was denied.

Gary Mason appeared to twist an ankle two minutes into stoppage time and that will be the only regret from three visits to Leith should that rule out the midfielder who yet again was one of our best players.

Yet another great trip to Easter Road then. Perhaps we should play the Rangers game there as well.